Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

@Grumblevolcano This means the main series is finally free from having to cater to Competitive.

@Grumblevolcano Pokémon Champions was also confirmed to have a Switch 2 version

@skywake I just saw the video in question and I'll repeat what I said in the comments, I think this exercise of analyzing the Switch 1's lineup in the Switch 2's time frame is a fairly pointless exercise. It really doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things, it's not like there's some countdown that causes sales/hype to expire after a certain period of time (that is true when there's a lack of news and coverage after a certain period of time, but that's beside the point). What matters is what's sitting on store shelves by the holiday season. That's what people are most likely to associate with something being a "2017" game or a "2025" game, not how long it's been since the system launch. Yes, the Switch did get an extra 3 months on the market than the Switch 2. But Nintendo strategically plans their dates based on what's ready and when they think it would have an impact. Having less games, especially major games, in 2025 than 2017 may have been a factor in why it launched 3 months later in the year. Fact of the matter is that Switch had BotW, MK8D, Splatoon 2, and Mario Odyssey by its first holiday season and that's hard to top. Switch 2 has come close with MKW, DK Bananza, and Pokemon Legends Z-A, but it's not quite at 2017's level. I think it needs one more megaton coming to really match 2017, and at this point in the year I find it unlikely it's going to get it (such a game would likely have been announced by now). So this year is probably going to fall just short of 2017. Not a bad year at all, the lineup is still respectable, it's just not the highest high. Maybe 2026 could if the stars align (if we can get something like Pokemon Gen 10, the big new 3D Mario game, Luigi's Mansion 4, and Animal Crossing all in 2026 then yes, that would be a much more 2017-esque lineup), but 2025 is not looking like it's going to hit the high mark set by 2017.

Prime 4? Kirby's Air Ride? And if we're counting Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in the Switch column then surely we count the Switch 2 Editions of Kirby and Zelda at the very least

I know these kinds of discussions tend to end with everyone choosing to count or not count games based on what strengthens our argument. Because this kind of stuff is mailable. And sure, BotW was a generational game that's incomparable. But IMO the doom and gloom math ain't mathing

There's a lot of content here to chew on for this early in a console life

What we're all overlooking is the third-party Switch 1 exclusive games. Do we have a comparison of Switch 1 vs 2 on that? Because from what I can tell, it's been much poorer. Heck AFAIK, the only Switch 2 exclusive third-party game is FAST Fusion?

There's also the fact that for the Switch 1, ports were genuinely exciting due to the new, pretty unique handheld selling point. With Switch 2 this isn't a major factor for most people anymore, because most ports are either also available for Switch 1, or on another competitive handheld.

At least that's the case for me and the few in my circle with a Switch 2; we're not buying multiplatform ports. We'll either play those games on PC or on the Steam Deck, which when you include the ability to stream games from your desktop for free means it can run anything far "better" than the Switch 2 with more options. This last point (having a desktop PC and a Steam Deck) is probably quite niche, but it's worth mentioning.

Kirby Air Riders Direct announced, 45 minutes?!

STOP I DIDNT EXPECT THIS IM SO HYPED FORTY FIVE MONUTES? LOOKS LIKE SAKURAI HAS BEEN COOKING UP SOMETHINGGFF

Oh look, a Kirby Air Ride Direct on the 19th of August. Lets have a look to see where that puts us

Now I'm not going to pretend that I called this but.... that's quite a co-incidence

I'll entertain your request here, just once. It's a bit harder to judge this given there are so many releases on Switch over the years it's hard to find dates for earlier games. Unless you know the games specifically or are looking at specific publishers or high selling titles. But scrolling through the list I can see these as "third party exclusives" for 2017:

Super Bomberman R (later ported)
Snipperclips (published by Nintendo)
Fast RMX
Mario + Rabbids

Third party support generally for Switch at launch was pretty thin. I think the biggest gets in the first year were Doom and Skyrim, obviously neither were exclusives. I would say on this count the Wii U early on had a significant edge over Switch although that quickly faded as it became clear it wasn't selling. Notably Rayman Legends, originally exclusive, was delayed for a multiplatform release. Coincidentally one of the multiplatform third party Switch first year titles

Switch 2 at this point is not doing particularly better in terms of exclusives. But then again, all third party stuff is multiplatform these days so that shouldn't suprise. But depending on how you count or don't count games I'd say it has:

• Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster
• Survival Kids
• Dear me, I was...
• Fast Fusion

But I'd say third party support generally is stronger than it was on Switch early on. Notably Switch 2 got Street Fighter 6 at launch while the Switch got 2. Which speaks for itself. And dismiss if if you want but stuff like FFVII remake, Borderlands 4, Elden Ring, Cyberpunk. Switch didn't get anywhere near that much in the first year. Can't really ignore The Duskbloods either I would think, even if it is dated broadly as 2026

I will definitely be tuning in for that Air Riders Direct, assuming I have the time to do it!

The air riders direct is 45 minutes??? Is that the longest individual direct they've done?

@Bigmanfan Some of Sakurai's past presentations were of similar length. For example November 2018 Smash Ultimate Direct was 41 minutes, April 2014 Smash 3DS/Wii U Direct was 39 minutes, Steve DLC was 46 minutes and Terry DLC was 49 minutes.

@Grumblevolcano Oh yeah, I forgot how obscenely long the smash character directs were lol

I literally stood up when that notif came thru on YT lol, I was not expecting it. Man, we missed a week, but the number of Thursday Directs in a row is getting wild haha!

Very much due since we literally haven't seen anything about the game.

My guess is we'll get a general Direct next in early September that has a Mario 40th segment as well as dates for Prime 4 and Age of Imprisonment, with the former getting a dedicated Direct sometime in late September or early October.

Mario's 40th won't be it's own Direct I think, there's too much other stuff that needs talked about and dated. The 35th anniversary one was a more unique circumstance due to covid and the games releasing around that time.

The Air Riders Direct revealed the game's release date to be November 20th.

that was one heck of a direct. and i think theres still something big hiding behind the curtain for Kirby Air Riders. way to go Mr. Sakurai, kirby looks better than ever!
so possibly prime 4 in september, pokemon october, kirby november, warriors december? and maybe some mario sports title or something we dont know about in there?

I think Metroid will be December with nothing for September? hmm

Maybe General Direct on September where they shadow drop Prime 2 and 3, and then 4 for December lol. Idk, this is just a guess

That direct was so good like what?!?!

Presented so well, and while ive never played the original air ride, I'm SO hyped to play riders when it comes out!!!

Every Switch year except 2018 has had a Nintendo game on the final week of October or the first week of November:

• 2017 - Mario Odyssey (October 27th)
• 2019 - Luigi's Mansion 3 (October 31st)
• 2020 - Pikmin 3 Deluxe (October 30th)
• 2021 - Mario Party Superstars (October 29th)
• 2022 - Bayonetta 3 (October 28th)
• 2023 - WarioWare Move It (November 3rd)
• 2024 - Mario & Luigi Brothership (November 7th)

So Kirby Air Riders turning out to be November 20th makes me think Prime 4 is November 6th, October 30th/31st could also work as a Halloween themed release (the first 5 games in the above list fits thematically) but mainline Pokemon usually has its release month to itself.